Psalm 46:1-3
2 Corinthians 5:17
Deuteronomy 31:6
Psalm 104:8
John 17:17
Thy Word Have I Hid in My Heart – Proverbs 6:23
“For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:” ~ Proverbs 6:23
Reproof – to critique/correct gently.
Rebuke – to express sharp, stern disapproval
If we are going to be people who rebuke, then we must also be people who instruct and teach. Without instruction, rebuke amounts only to criticism and results in wounds and confusion. God hasn’t assigned anyone to correct and then walk quickly away from the correction. I believe we are always to rebuke with meekness and love, taking the time (even if just a moment) to teach the person not only what is wrong according to God’s Word but how to live according to God’s Word. That instruction is the way of life.
Heavenly Father, Help us today to be disciples that disciple others in Your Word and Your ways. Help us to build up and not tear down. Help us to LOVE and lead people to the way of LIFE. In Jesus Name. Amen!
DNA of the FIVE-FOLD
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” ~ Ephesians 4:11-12
Earlier this year, I saw this chart on Facebook and thought it so very interesting. I do welcome any thoughts regarding this gentleman’s breakdown. I can look at this and get a pretty great idea of where I fit, can you?
DNA of the Five-Fold
By Oscar Guobadia
In 2018, I admonish all Five-Fold graces to learn their call. These in the nutshell are the basic DNA of the FIVE-FOLD. It can be expounded, but you can definitely run with this…….All these should be the EXPRESSIONS of the Church.
………………………………………………………………….
THEIR MAKE-UP
APOSTLES – Mission
PROPHETS – Vision
EVANGELISTS – Commission
PASTORS – Compassion
TEACHERS – Passion
………………………………………………………………..
THEIR GAZE
APOSTLES – Long-Sight
PROPHETS – Foresight
EVANGELISTS – Hindsight
PASTORS – Oversight
TEACHERS – Insight
…………………………………………………………………..
THEIR MANDATE
APOSTLES – Governs
PROPHETS – Guides
EVANGELISTS – Gathers
PASTORS – Guards
TEACHERS – Grounds
…………………………………………………………………
THEIR OPERATIONS
APOSTLES – Leads
PROPHETS – Speaks
EVANGELISTS – Proclaims
PASTORS- Cares
TEACHERS – Equips
Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God!
At some phase, each of us will be confronted with the impurities of our hearts. The Holy Spirit reveals our sinfulness not to condemn us but to establish humility and deepen the knowledge of our need for grace. It is at this crossroad that both holy men and hypocrites are bred. Those who become holy see their need and fall prostrate before God for grace and forgiveness. Those who become hypocrites are they who, in seeing their sin, excuse it and thus remain intact. Though all men must eventually stand at this juncture, few are they who embrace the voice of truth; few are they indeed who will walk humbly toward true holiness. — Francis Frangipane in his book Holiness, Truth and the Presence of God
Yesterday I found myself at this juncture once again. I can think of nothing more heart wrenching than to be shown the impurities of your own heart by a holy God. But I am so very thankful that He loves us enough to show us. I am so thankful that He still convicts and lets the spirit of repentance fall. I am so thankful that He forgives. I am so thankful that He then shows you how He wishes you to proceed beyond forgiveness.
See, sometimes Father requires that we go to a person or group of people and humble ourselves and apologize for words spoken or not spoken; for actions taken or not taken. The Bible says in James 5:16:
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
We sometimes like to skip over that part. We let it go and say it was no big deal. Truly yesterday I had to ask forgiveness for some words I spoke. They weren’t what some would consider harsh words but the words I spoke were not grounded in love, compassion, and support for God’s children. He does look at the heart, you know! So here I was and I knew I had to go not only to the person I spoke them to but also to those that were present when I spoke them. I tried to get out of it. Believe me, I tried. I tried to excuse it away – they won’t remember and even if they do will I not be dredging up old stuff? Oh, we can come up with some great excuses, can’t we?
But I know the voice of the Lord and I really know the conviction of the Lord. When I was first saved I asked the Holy Ghost one day to give me a heart of repentance. I desired a heart that was sensitive to conviction and always ready to ask forgiveness of Him and make amends quickly with anyone I hurt along the way. He gave me that heart and it is not always easy. I don’t always do it perfectly and I am surely not usually graceful in the process. Sometimes it makes others more uncomfortable than I am. But there is something about repentance and confession that sets us all free.
So I apologized not once but to several different people. It was HARD and in the end, not one of them even remembered my words and some didn’t even hear the conversation and all of them thought it was no big deal. BUT that didn’t matter so much because – God heard and to Him what He heard and saw in my heart was a big deal. While He doesn’t remember our sin past that moment of forgiveness, He told me to go to each of them and He does remember that. He knows why He wanted me to do that because He knows His plans for each one of us.
In the end, we stand at the crossroads and the roads lead to holiness and Life or to death. What is holiness? Where can you find the presence of the Lord? His presence demands obedience to His Word, His voice, and His call. His presence demands a clean heart.
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. ~ Psalm 51:10-12
Create in me a clean heart oh God… We quote the scripture, sing the song, and we ask that of our God in prayer. And then He answers….
…for Your Good and His Glory
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. ~ Psalm 16:11
I have lived long enough to discover that life is not about having every dream come true or every want fulfilled. Life is about glorifying God in all things. Sometimes we go through some very hard trials and great loss. If in that we are focused on ourselves, we become bitter in our suffering. But when we can see the journey for what it is – an opportunity to glorify God and minister to others, we will discover that our burdens are more bearable.
I lost my dad as a young teenager and my only sister as a young adult. My heart aches over the losses. I have seen days I thought I would never recover joy following my dad’s suicide and it seemed all my peace left forever the day my sister was taken off of life support. These were hard parts of my path. Yet, in the course of my life God has given me many opportunities to help others in ways that would not have been possible were my dad and sister still alive. Does that make their deaths worth it? Of course not! But somehow my pain is lessened when I am used to help others going through similar losses.
Romans 8:28 says: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.
Indeed, the difficult parts of our paths are never without meaning and purpose. If we are God’s children, although it may seem His hand is against us, He is always working for our good and His glory.
My prayer today is that you will know the true fullness of joy and peace that comes from walking with Jesus along your own path. I pray that you will allow Him to use you to help someone else. And if it is in your heart, may God work to root any bitterness out … for your good and His glory. In Jesus Name! Amen.